Julie Bryan WVAM Conference 2018 Education Programs Julie Bryan WVAM Conference 2018

Educational Programs Field Trips Outreach Programs Special Events

Field Trips Guided Tour Self-guided Tour Free play and Program

Field Trips: Where do you start? Your museum has a mission All programs need to support your mission

Create a Program: Field Trips Brainstorm-what facts do you want to tell your visitors What facts support your mission Look for themes that connect your facts Construct your programs around themes that link these facts!

Facts and Themes Dining etiquette in 1800s Sugar bowl made here Chippendale chair Tall case clock made here Fireplace Portraits of iron furnace owners Mission: Frederick County history Theme: Chippendale chair Industry in Frederick County Fireplace

Thematic Guided Tours Thematic Tour Point-and-Shoot Tour Industry was important to Frederick County’s development. This sugar bowl was made in Frederick County where water and sand, the necessary raw materials for glass, were found in abundance. The tall case clock in the corner is an example of just one of the many clocks that were made in Frederick… Point-and-Shoot Tour This is a sugar bowl made in 1782 in Frederick. This dining table is big because social dining was important at the time it was made. Over here is a beautiful clock that was made in Frederick. Isn’t it charming? This Chippendale chair, which was made in New Hampshire, was given to us by Mrs. Smith, a prominent woman in Frederick.

Self-Guided Thematic Field Trips Self-guided Tour Exhibit labels tell a thematic story Questions in self-guided program explain themes Free play and Program Exhibits are themed, program is themed: both reinforce Spark’s mission

Outreach Programs Busses are expensive: schools may have money to pay for your program but not for their busses. Reach more people Libraries and afterschool programs that can’t do field trips Allows for larger groups

Outreach Programs: Where do you start? Your museum has a mission All programs need to support your mission

Our Museums are Awesome! What can you provide that a teacher/parent/library cannot? Teaching collection, equipment, primary source documents, knowledge Ex. Frederick County history/American history Jacob Engelbrecht diary Find your niche, create a thematic program around it!

Create a Program: Outreach Brainstorm-what facts do you want to tell participants What facts support your mission Look for themes that connect your facts Construct your programs around themes that link these facts!

Why thematic programs work Themes help ensure visitors hear the most important information Thematic programs are easier to follow and more enjoyable Organized information is easier to learn and remember than disorganized information

I have my themes and key facts… Thematic Tour Industry was important to Frederick County’s development. This sugar bowl was made in Frederick County where water and sand, the necessary raw materials for glass, were found in abundance. The tall case clock in the corner is an example of just one of the many clocks that were made in Frederick… now what?

From organized themes to great programs Ask Questions/Encourage Discussion Give participants something to do

Ask questions/Encourage Discussion Use open-ended questions. Limit questions that have only one correct answer. If you find yourself correcting a lot of answers, you are asking the wrong questions. Be flexible! (You want to talk about a water pump at the sink, so you ask, “How did people get water in the past?” A child raises his hand and answers, “They took a bucket to a well.”) Guide by asking questions and adding on information to their answers. “What do you see in this room that is different than what is in your kitchen?” Leave enough time for people to respond (at least 5 seconds, more is better).

Give them something to do Watch a Demonstration Participate Move their bodies (portaging) Make something Pass around an item from teaching collection-ensure enough of each item for group

Put it all together Thematic programs that balance listening, answering questions, discussion and doing something Ex. Intro to Nanoscience program Ex. Frederick County history/Primary source

I-spy and Q & A with art (primary sources) I-spy and Q & A with photos (primary sources) Scherenschnitte-take home that reinforces lesson

General Tips Give rules before you start program (this works for adults too) Ask them to sit down in the museum (elementary students) Move quickly, don’t keep people sitting/standing in one place for too long Let them know they will see everything in the museum If you have a difficult child in your school tour, it may be good to give them a job. It can be as simple as having them make sure that all the students stay together and follow you. Relate what you are saying to what they know

Special Events When planning an event In your head, go through what participants will encounter at each point. Where is the bottleneck? Is there enough people and signage to explain how to do things? Are they standing too long , going without something to do for too long?

Evaluate Were there areas where the audience got restless Were there questions that caused confusion Team Based Inquiry http://www.nisenet.org/catalog/team-based-inquiry-guide

Thank you! Questions Please fill out evaluations-is there a subject discussed in the talk that you would like to see in more detail at a future conference Workshop for thematic tours? Outreach programs? Special Events?